Attack on Hedegaard draws Dutch support

Yesterday’s assassination attempt on Islam critic Lars Hedegaard, chairman of the Free Press Society, was all over the Dutch media, and when DR contacted the Dutch members of the European Parliament for comments, they already knew of the case and used words such as “terrible” and “despicable” to describe the attack.

“We see this time and again: people are being attacked for using their freedom of expression to voice their opinions,” said Laurence Stassen, member of the right-wing, Islam-critical Party for Freedom.

Two assassinations in two years

The Dutch are only too familiar with attacks on critics of Islam. Nine years ago, director Theo van Gogh was murdered by a Muslim radical for expressing his censorious opinions of Islam on film, and eleven years ago, a Dutch environmentalist shot and killed the Islam-critical politician Pim Fortuyn.

“We must crack down on these people, who live in Europe but don’t respect our freedom of speech,” stated Stassen.

Not an entire ethnic group

However, for the Dutch liberal party VVD, it is more important to avoid public panic as well as the blind faith that legislation alone can prevent extremist attacks.

According to EU parliamentarian Hans van Baalen, the Dutch have learned their lesson from the assassinations of openly critical people, and understand the importance of avoiding persecution of an entire ethnic group.

“We must remember that the guilty party is just one individual,” said van Baalen.

Fight for freedom of speech

In the Netherlands, it soon became clear that public criticism of Islam had motivated the attacks and it became crucial to engage the Dutch Muslim community in open dialogue, according to van Baalen.

“We made it clear from the outset that they needed to distance themselves from the attacks. It was vital that they opened up and didn’t stay silent on the issue.”

He also believes that the public needs to support the victim.

“Everyone should lend the victim their support. No one should say: If only he’d kept his mouth shut. Support free speech.”